Prof Bird has over twenty years’ experience in treating rheumatic disease, with particular expertise in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. He has held Staff Specialist roles at both St George Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital and a visiting medical officer position at Griffith Base Hospital, where he managed a rural rheumatology clinic from 1999-2005. In addition to his clinical practice, Prof Bird is the Director of Optimus Clinical Research, a facility dedicated to pursuing trials of the latest developments in rheumatology. Part of review boards for several large international medical journals, he spends time reviewing research and publications, keeping up to date with the most recent medical advances. As part of his commitment to optimising rheumatology treatments, he is member of the OPAL group directorate, a dedicated group of clinicians pursuing exploration of better delivery of rheumatology care through clinician driven research. Internationally recognised as a specialist in rheumatic disease and imaging, he is the current Chair of the International Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research association and actively participates in national and international rheumatology research.